2. Conversion of DL-threonine, D-threonine and 2-oxobutyrate into propionate and 2-hydroxybutyrate by Fusobacterium species
J P Carlier, C Henry, V Lorin, K Rouffignat Lett Appl Microbiol. 1997 Nov;25(5):371-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.1997.00245.x.
The present investigation examined DL-threonine, D-threonine and 2-oxobutyrate conversion into propionate and 2-hydroxybutyrate by various type strains and clinical isolates of Fusobacterium. Except for Fus. naviforme, the type strains were able to produce varying degrees of propionate and/or 2-hydroxybutyrate from DL-threonine. Additionally, D-threonine was converted into an equimolar amount of propionate by Fus. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum, Fus. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum and Fus. varium, and to a lower but significant amount by Fus. mortiferum and Fus. perfoetens. However, the level of propionate remained unchanged for Fus. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme, Fus. nucleatum subsp. vincentii, Fus. naviforme, Fus. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme, Fus. gonidiaforme and Fus. russii. 2-Oxobutyrate was fermented to propionate by all type strains, although Fus. russii reduced it mainly to 2-hydroxybutyrate. Thus, an attempt was made to make use of these features in order to identify clinical isolates.
3. EFFECT OF O-METHYL-DL-THREONINE AND O-METHYL-DL-SERINE ON GROWTH AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN ESCHERICHIA COLI
S NEALE, H TRISTRAM J Bacteriol. 1963 Dec;86(6):1241-50. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.6.1241-1250.1963.
Neale, S. (Department of Botany, University College, London, England), and H. Tristram. Effect of O-methyl-dl-threonine and O-methyl-dl-serine on growth and protein synthesis in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 86:1241-1250. 1963.-Addition of either O-methyl-dl-threonine or O-methyl-dl-serine to exponentially growing cultures of Escherichia coli resulted in "linear" increases in optical density. The total cell count, however, remained constant, the increase in optical density being accompanied by a marked increase in cell length. In the presence of O-methyl-dl-serine, a phase of "linear" growth was followed by exponential growth, which was maintained during a second passage through analogue-containing medium but not after a subsequent passage through normal medium, suggesting phenotypic adaptation to the analogue. The differential rate of incorporation of amino acids into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material was unaffected by growth in the presence of either O-methyl-dl-threonine or O-methyl-dl-serine. Neither analogue was incorporated into E. coli protein. The effect of the analogues on the production of alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase was examined. The precise point and mode of action of the analogues have not been determined, but available evidence suggests that the growth-inhibitory effects of both substances are due to interference with the biosynthesis of threonine and methionine.
